Painted Rock Garden for children

 backyard Childrens Area  No Responses »
Sep 112010
 

A project for children in the summer or for long weekends is to create a painted rock garden. It’s an activity all the children can participate in and a project that can grow over the years.

It’s also a garden area that can be changed for the seasons. In the fall your children can add painted pumpkins or gourds.

Start your rock garden by collecting rocks of all sizes from the yard or other areas. A river, pond or fields are wonderful places to collect rock. The number of rocks needed depends on how large the rock garden will be and if you plan to create a small mini rock wall.

Have your children help prepare a spot in the yard for garden. Near the base of a tree, in a barren area or around a flowerbed are good choices. You will want to clear out the weeds and smooth the area with a garden rake.

To paint the rocks, get several small buckets of paint or the small waterproof acrylic paints in the 8 to 12 ounce plastic bottles. Apple Barrel is one brand. Paint for left over projects is also a good selection.

Help the children paint the rocks on an old blanket, tarp or newspaper and let the rocks dry before placing them on the prepared ground. Get creative and mix up the way you paint. Solid colors, patterns or pictures are a few ideas. The shape of the rock may also affect the painting.

Make sure the paint will withstand weather fairly well by using waterproof paint or applying a varnish after the paint has dried. Let the children arrange the rocks. Add a potted plant or two among the rock garden for extra interest or ceramic figurines.

This is a garden that can constantly change its appearance by moving or adding rocks. A rock garden like this will add interest to the backyard and may create an interest in gardening or landscaping for your children.

Posted by Denise at 9:57 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Backyard Play Gym

 backyard Childrens Area  2 Responses »
Jun 112009
 

Summer is here and the backyard will become a haven for activities and games for children. And as the summer moves along the children may tire of their toys or need a break from their routine. Kids at Camp Long, 1954
Creative Commons License photo credit: Seattle Municipal Archives

You can easily construct a backyard play  gym that will add different activity to their schedule.

Ideas for a Backyard Play Gym

You could place plastic tubes around the backyard for children to climb through. Add interest to playing in the tubes by having some open with light showing thought and other dark, which would resemble a cave or other mysterious places.

Fabric tubes are another option for your backyard gym. These should be placed on grass or sand so children won’t hurt their knees when crawling through them.  By changing there location and placing some together and others apart you can create new adventures and games for the children to play.

Include a small climbing structure. I have used wooden crates stacked on each other or placed on their sides. Make sure this structure is not very high and is secure and will not move or tip over. It’s also best to locate this structure on wood chips, mats or a soft grassy area.

You may find if you use a larger create that the children turn it into a mini cabin or fort area.  Supply cloth or an old blanket that they can use to create an awning or canopy from the crate to a tree or another crate.

Blankets and clothesline can also be used for a makeshift tent or fort. Children have a wonderful imagination so expect to see quite a creation.

Find mats for outdoor playing. Children will be able to tumble and roll without getting hurt with the additional safety and padding of a mat. If your children are tumbling make sure the mats are in an open area away from trees, walls, stairs or buildings.

Swings can easily be added to a backyard. You can buy swings or a swing set or use an old inner tube or tire and hang from a secure rope from a tree branch. We always had a tire swing over by our picnic area. Place wood chips under the swing for a cushion if the child falls. swinging in silence
Creative Commons License photo credit: rachie lea

If you have young children you may want to add a baby swing with safety bars and a harness.

A small kiddie pool or water sprinkler can add water games that will be appreciated on a hot day.

And for a rest area or lunch after playing and running for few hours you may want to add a mini hammock, picnic table or table and chairs. If you place a waterproof box with hinges you can add a packet of paper, markers, coloring books and pencils for quiet relaxing activities.

The backyard should be a relaxing fun place for children to play and have fond memories of friends and family. With the addition of a backyard play gym you can add change and new games to the children’s play area.

Posted by Denise at 10:48 pm  Tagged with: , , ,

Design a backyard Play Area

 backyard Childrens Area  No Responses »
May 192009
 

A backyard play area is an important part of your backyard, particularly in the summer months. There are several elements to take into consideration when planning a play area. Deck Debris
Creative Commons License photo credit: √oхέƒx™

Age is a big part of your play area design. Are your children close in age in interests or is there an age difference that will influence the play toys and equipment you add to the backyard?

Ask your children what interests them and ask for ideas. You may find that a fort or tree house fits most of their ideas. Or they may want a camping area and tent.

If the children are small a mini pool and sandbox may be a perfect idea. Just make sure to locate it close to the house and within eyesight.

Include elements and design that children can change and use for multi purposes. Old boards can be built into a temporary fort. Blankets can be made into a house with clothesline and clothespins. An old table can be used for painting, crafting ideas and for working on toy models. And a pile of sand or dirt has many purposes to a child. DSC09874
Creative Commons License photo credit: Travis Hornung

Plan for rainy days. A play area on the porch or patio may be a perfect solution. When I was growing up we had a rainy day box filled with paint, paper, books  and toys we rarely played with.

Swings,  play equipment and mini pools or a water hose will also add to the backyard play area. Yard games such as ring toss or horse shoes will also add a change to backyard activities.

Create a place for your children to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Their own table and chairs or a hammock in the shade may encourage them to read a book or watch clouds or the stars at night.

You could also create a small garden area for your children. Let them choose a few flowers or vegetables. If they are grown in containers close to the house the children will be able to watch them grow and keep them watered easily.

Above all else, make sure your backyard children’s play area is safe. Check any play equipment for rough or sharp edges. Also check for sharp rocks or broken glass.

And if there is a pool take extra precautions to keep your children are supervised and safe.

Posted by Denise at 9:59 pm  Tagged with: , , , ,

Tic-Tac-Toe Game

 backyard Childrens Area  No Responses »
Mar 262009
 

Children’s Backyard Play Area Tic-Tac-Toe Game

As the weather is improving and children will soon be on school vacation this is the time to be planning new backyard activities to keep you children happy and busy. Here is an easy to make backyard summer activity game that is perfect for those days when children are restless or for parties and family reunions. You can also involve your child in creative project. First day of spring
Creative Commons License photo credit: Conor Keller

Drop-Cloth Tic-Tac-Toe Board Game

Supplies:
5-foot by 8-foot canvas drop cloth
1-inch painter’s tape (painters tape is better but masking tape will work)
paintbrush
cardboard or vinyl pieces
1 pint semi-gloss paint

First measure and mark a 33 inch square in the center of the drop cloth to create the border of your backyard tic-tac-toe board. A yardstick and pencil will be needed for this step. Draw lines inside the larger square to create nine equal 11-inch squares.

Next place the one-inch tape along the outside edges of the large square, and center along the interior square lines making the game grid. Measure 1 inch from the tape along the outer edge of the large square and apply another border of tape.

Using semi-gloss paint, paint the nine inner squares and the border of the large square between the painter’s tape. Allow the paint to dry and apply additional coats as needed. Once the paint is dry, remove the tape.

Now it’s time to make the make the game pieces. Trace around a smaller six-inch paper plate on heavy cardboard or pieces of vinyl. Make 12 round pieces and place a painted X on 6 pieces and a painted O on the other six pieces. You may want to paint the X’s and O’s different colors and you may want to paint the background of the round circles a different color for each X or O too. Seal the pieces with clear varnish to protect the paint. You will not need these many pieces for each time the game is played, a few are extra pieces.

Tips

  • Using thick cardboard or vinyl game pieces create game pieces that should not hurt children. Vinyl pieces can be picked up at most hardware stores or interior design stores.
  • Select paint and varnish with no lead
  • You may find it helpful to use tent stakes or long nails in the corners of the drop cloth. This will hold your backyard tic-tac-toe board in place if it’s windy.

Your children will enjoy helping create and paint this backyard game. Let them choose their favorite colors for painting the game pieces and game board. This game can also be used on patios and indoors.

Posted by Denise at 2:04 pm  Tagged with: , ,

Birdbath Project

 backyard Childrens Area  No Responses »
Mar 132009
 

Setting up a children’s play area in your backyard oasis will give your children a place to call their own and will provide them with hours of entertainment and activity. Swing sets, sandboxes, playhouses and forts are only a few ideas. One other idea for your backyard play area is learning about nature. By setting up a birdbath your child can watch birds and learn to identify them. Below is a birdbath project your child can make. They will take pride in the project they created for their Backyard play area Small birds
Creative Commons License photo credit: Valerie Everett

Children’s Birdbath project

Select a place in the backyard childrens play area that has a mix of sun and shade and preferably a small tree or bush for the birds to have shelter and protection. This will help you to determine the size of the pot you will purchase and any other ideas for your birdbath project.

Next purchase a large terra-cotta plant pot. Make sure it has a saucer and that the saucer is glazed on the inside. The saucer needs to be at least eight inches across and you may decide to select a larger size.

Turn the plant pot upside-down and allow the child to paint designs on the pot. Acrylic paints will work the best for this project. After the pot has dried thoroughly, coat with a clear waterproof sealant to protect the design from the weather.

You may want to suggest designs for the birdbath creation or just let the child create a design on his own. If you have more than one child you can have them decorate parts of the birdbath or have rocks or a bird feeder that also need painted.

The last step is to place the glazed saucer on top of the upside-down plant pot. Check the position then glue in place with Liquid Nails or another construction adhesive. Allow the birdbath to dry completely.

Your final selection for the bird bath will be determined my how the pot looks in its new area, location of bushes and trees and any other projects that were made for the area at the same time. 

When you have selected the final position, make sure the birdbath is sitting evenly on the ground. You may need to add or remove soil to level the birdbath. For the final step layer small pebbles on the bottom of the saucer, then add two inches of fresh water.

Your children will want to check the water daily and the birdbath will need to be cleaned occasionally. You may even want to add a few new flowers that attract birds and a birdhouse to your bird santuary.

Posted by Denise at 12:59 pm  Tagged with: ,
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